Cycling paths and low-traffic side roads take us around Mt. Monte di Mezzo
Image gallery: Round tour Oltradige and Bassa Atesina area
In principle, any place with access to the route can be considered as the starting and end point of this tour: Appiano, Caldaro, Ora, Bronzolo, Laives or Bolzano. This time we have chosen Ora. At the train station in Ora, at the roundabout, we take the exit to the north (old country road to Bronzolo) and immediately after the car park, we turn left into the subway towards Castelvarco/Laimburg. A few hundred metres further on we find the entrance to the Adige Cycle Path, which we take towards Bolzano (north). Along the Adige river we pass Bronzolo and Laives, then cross the Vadena Bridge and continue to the "Frizzi Au", where the rivers Isarco and Adige meet. We reach the cycle path junction south of Bolzano and turn left towards Merano and Appiano. Continuing along the eastern bank of the Adige, we come to a small railway crossing, just before which there is a turnoff across the bridge over the Adige river towards Appiano.
Across the bridge, the route leads uphill, past Firmiano Castle and Frangarto, through vineyards, deciduous forests and a few short tunnels. Finally we reach S. Michele, where we drive through a subway and continue towards Caldaro. At the Kreuzweg path we turn left and follow the signs "Lavasontal" and " Ora". The path goes downhill through orchards, vineyards and woods. In front of us we see Lake Caldaro. Be careful during the fast descent, because the local residents are also allowed to drive their cars or tractors on these paths. Arriving on the eastern shore of the lake, the route passes the settlement of Campi al Lago, leads then through a biotope, and after the military area into a more busy country road. Here we have to turn left. The route leads under the railway and the Brennero Motorway over the Adige river. After the bridge we turn left to return to the starting point at the train station in Ora. A tour that can be done by (almost) everybody - a few small ascents, cycle paths and side roads, a short section on a country road... Even children with a little bit of driving experience and fitness can easily follow this route.
The tour is especially recommended in spring and autumn, when it is not too hot. Variant for sporty cyclists: shortly before reaching Lake Caldaro, a mountain road turns left up the Monte di Mezzo. The steep route (up to 15% gradient) leads over the Kreithberg Pass, which the locals simply call "Much", and then via Vadena back to the Adige Cycle Path.
Author: AT
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- Starting point:
- Ora (train station)
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- Time required:
- 02:45 h
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- Track length:
- 35,7 km
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- Altitude:
- from 212 m to 404 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +245 m | -245 m
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- Route:
- Ora railway station - Ponte di Vadena - Ponte Adige - Frangarto - San Michele di Appiano - Campi al Lago di Caldaro - Monte - Ora railway station
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- Track surface:
- Asphalt
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Round tour Oltradige and Bassa Atesina area
If you want to do this tour, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
